Page 40 of Wicked Wolf

He searched her face for a long while then nodded, knowing it was the truth. “I can do that, Gina. I can treat you as Gina, if you can treat me as Quinn. Can you forgive me?”

She lifted up on her toes then brushed her lips against his. His wolf pressed against his skin, craving more. “You need to stir the meat,” she said once she went back to the flat of her feet. “I’ll start the eggs.”

He hesitated, then nodded. She hadn’t said she’d forgiven him, but he didn’t blame her. He’d cut right to the bone, but he’d do everything in his power to prove that he was worthy of her…even if he couldn’t risk his heart.

He’d already lost everything, and he didn’t know if he could do it again. Not fully. Only time would tell.

They finished making breakfast while speaking of Pack duties and council matters. They didn’t discuss what would happen next or even what would happen the next day. Things were going to change in every way possible. He was going to leave his Pack, his home, and his friends to protect his son. The fact that he would so willingly do that shocked him, yet he knew it shouldn’t have.

Jesse was more important than anything.

Even himself.

After breakfast, they did the dishes and then stood next to one another, the tension rising again. He cupped her face and let out a breath when she let him, this time even leaning into his palm.

“You know the two steps of mating, right?” he asked, his voice low. Best to get the formalities out of the way since they were both nervous.

She nodded. “We will each mark one another so our wolves will be bonded, and then when we make love, you’ll release inside me, sealing the other half of the bond.”

Make love.

He liked those words on her lips.

It sounded better than fucking or sex. It sounded as if they were actually going to try and be normal rather than going about this in all the worst ways possible.

He nodded then tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with his other hand. “Then Kade, most likely, will perform a mating ceremony when we’re both ready.” He swallowed hard. “It might be best to do that once Jesse and I are fully Redwoods, rather than confusing the Talon issue.” It broke something inside him to say that, but he knew the Brentwoods and the rest of the Talons would eventually be okay with his decision. It wasn’t as though there was another one to make.

Some people might have thought he’d be the one to stay within his Pack because he was the male, but those people were idiots. Gina was the one with the fated position, the one with the bond to her Pack that would eventually lead to even more strength and dominance. He would find a way to fit in because he had to. There was no way he’d make her give up her Pack when she was giving up everything else.

Maybe she’s not giving up everything. Maybe she could be happy with you.

That small voice in his head startled him, but he pushed it away. He didn’t need those kinds of thoughts.

“Are you sure you’re ready to leave the Talons?” she asked.

He nodded. “For Jesse…and for you, yes I am.

Her eyes widened, and she smiled. Just a small smile, but he felt as if it was the largest of victories.

“And it’s not like I’m leaving my Pack behind in all ways,” he added. “The Talons and Redwoods are forming even more of a unit than they had before. That’s why we have the council.” That’s why they had met.

She nodded. “We can talk about all of that once we make more plans,” she said. “I think…I think…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him toward her. Her lips pressed against his, and he lowered his head, leaning into the kiss.

His wolf whimpered, begging for more. He cupped her face fully then slanted his mouth over hers. She opened for him and tentatively touched her tongue to his. He growled then deepened the kiss.

She tasted of stir-fry and sweetness, and he craved more. He forced himself not to dwell on what would happen next. If he did, he’d pull away and run like the coward he was. He knew she’d never love him; she couldn’t, not when he’d pushed her away like he had that first time.

He wouldn’t allow himself to love her. He couldn’t risk it.

Again, he pushed those thoughts away and focused on the woman in his arms. They might not have the mating wolves dreamed about, but he refused to ruin everything in the meaning of this moment. Gina deserved better.

He pulled away then rested his forehead against hers. “You taste amazing,” he said softly.

“Don’t use the pretty words you don’t mean,” she said, her voice cracking.

Annoyed, he pinched her chin and forced her gaze to his. He felt her wolf rise, buck at his challenge, but she didn’t pull away. “I’m not going to lie to you. We’re both being honest about why we’re doing this, but I’m not going to allow you to be hurt any more than you are. I won’t lie about what is happening, what I need, what I crave. I expect you to do the same. We have centuries together, and I’m not about to make you suffer during them.”

She searched his face then nodded. “Fine,” she said softly.